Projectile for rifled guns.



No. 642,762. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

F. STUBBS 8|. L. BURROWS.

PBUJECTILE FOB BIFLED GUNS.

(Apphcataon filed Nov 7 1899) 2 Shaats8heet I,

(No Model.)

No. 642,762. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

' F. STUBBS & L. BURBOWS.

PnuJE,.on RIFLED suns.

(Applicafion filed Nov. 7, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITE TATES ATENT R FREDERIC STUBBS AND LYCURGUS BURROWS, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

PROJE CTILE FOR RIFLED GUNS.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,762, dated February 6, 1900. s ucaam fil d November '7, 1899. Serial No. 736,157. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERIC STUBBS and LYcuRGUs Bunnows, residing at Sheflield, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in orRelating to Projectiles for RifledGuns, (for which we have made application for Letters Patent in Great Britain under-No. 4,020, dated February 23, 1899,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in projectiles for rifled guns, its object being the provision upon a projectile of means to'prevent the passage of powder-gases past it, so that loss of muzzle velocity and the occurence of erosion in the weapon, which has hitherto resulted from such passage of the gases, will be greatly reduced.

Hitherto projectiles for rifled ordnance, for example, have been provided with a fixed driving-band sufiiiciently ductile to enable the rifling to form projections upon the band, which fits gas-tight therein, as the projectile commences its movement away from the breech; but as the projectile moves toward the muzzle the driving sides of the projections into the rifling are worn away by friction, so as to leave a clearance between the idle side of each projection and the surface of the rifling. The powder gases consequently escape past the driving-band projections through each of the numerous clearances thus produced, eroding the barrel and reducing the pressure of the powder-gases behind the projectile to such an extent as to materially lessen the muzzle velocity.

According to the present invention we employ, in addition to the driving-band or other device which imparts rotation to the projectile, a sealin g device or gas-check supplemental thereto, which, while it makes a gas-tight joint with the contiguous surfaces of the barrel, exerts no rotative efiort upon the projectile, and therefore remains gas-tightthroughout the whole of its transit through the bore. This supplemental device consists of one or more bands retained in any suitable position on the projectilesay in a groove therein-so as to be free to turn upon it in order that the additional rotation acquired by the projectile by reason of the wearing away of the driving projections may occur within the supplemental band or bands, which receive only such rotation as"'corresponds with the twist of the rifling. The sealing-bands may be placed in grooves upon theprojectile, which may receive'also, if desired, a driving-band, or the sealing-band may be in a separate groove.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a projectile having a fixed driving-band of ordinary construction, the figure representing the projectile before firing. Fig. 2 is a similar view just after the driving-band has en'- tered the rifling. Fig. 3 is asimilar view just as the projectile leaves the muzzle. Figs. 4 and 5 are part transverse sections on the lines 4 4'and 5 5 of Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, a portion of the gun-tube being also shown. Fig.'6 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a projectile having a rotatable gascheck, according to this .-invention, the view being taken before firing; and Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views, but are taken after firing, the position of the gas-check being diiferent in each case.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

The following description as far as it relates to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 is by way of explanation only, the various details forming no part of the present invention. I

A is a projectile having near 'its base a driving-band B of suitable material-copper, for iustance-fastened, say, by pressing the band into a recess in the projectile by means of a hydraulic or other press. Beadings A are formed upon the projectile, and these are not continuous, but are cut across, say, by a chisel, so that the band B is prevented from rotating. Cannelures B, Fig. l, are formed upon the driving-band, and when the projectile is fired the material forming the band is forced to enter the rifling of the bore, as at E the flow of the material filling up the cannelures B wholly or partially. As soon as the projectile has fairly entered the rifled portion of the bore the projections B completely fill the rifling.

is clearly shown in Fig. 4, where C represents a portion of the muzzle.

Figs. 3 and 5 show the eifect of the friction between the driving-band B and the rifling during the passage of the projectile through the bore. The projections B are worn away This IOO

considerably, a space Bf, Fig. 5,'being left between one face of each projection and the.

adjacent edge of the rifled groove. These spaces permit the escape of the powder-gases and are disadvantageous in all respects.

The projectiles illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and

' serves to prevent the passage of gas through the spaces caused by the wearing of the drivin g-band. The gas-check D is preferably furnisl1e(l' witli one or more cannelures D and may be pressed into its place around the projectile. When the projectile is fired,the material forming this gas-check is formed by the action of the riding into projections D similar to the projections B on the driving-band. The essential difference between the two bands B and 1) is that the former is fixed relatively to the projectile A, and consequently acts as a driving-band and wears, while. the gas-check D merely follows, the rifiing and will turn relatively to the projectile rather than wear. To insure this, it will be noticed that no cross-cutbeads or similar devices are formed on the projectile at the spot where it receives the band B.

Fig. 6 shows the driving-band B' and the gas-check D both placed in one groove in the projectile, the groove being slightly deeper where it accommodates the gas-check.

In the constructions illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the bands are in separate grooves, the gas-check D being in the one ease in front of the driving-band B and in the other behind it.

Although it is preferred to employ an automatic gas-check in the form of a rotatable band, as hereinbefore described, yet obviously other forms may be used without derting from the spirit of this invention. For nstance, a disk of copper or other material may be attached to the rear of the projectile, being free to rotate thereon during the discharge, such disk acting in a similar way to that described with reference to the band D.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a projectile for rifled guns, of a driving device fixedly secured to the projectile and a gas-check carried by the projectile and rotatable relatively to it during its discharge through the bore.

2. The combination with a projectile for rifled guns, of a driving device fixedly secured to the projectile and an annular rotatable gas-check which encircles the projectile and is free to rotate thereon, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a projectile for rifled guns, of a driving-band B, an annular rotatable gas-check D, and a groove in the projectile to contain the driving-band and the gas-check, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a projectile for rifled guns, of a driving-band fixedly secured to the projectile, and a gas-check carried by the projectile and rotatable relatively to it during its discharge through the bore, said gas-check having an encircling cannelure for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIC STUBBS. LYCURGUS BURROWS. Witnesses:

JOHN ALBERT WILsoN, THOMAS HARVEY. 

